Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-08-26
The Dug out Again.-where aud How IT
IL Made.

|
There ore duq-outs and d,,o,.o,,ts Cor.
toinlv tbera 10 onothor sort tbo,' tbot ,,Iinb
vour corresnondent from Kansas On ,,oll do.
| scribes in vour issuc of Soturl,v 1os lie
is that of n sod ousn nrouor =, ot,,,,t,,r,
that con Inc roisad i'm any, r1oco ,.ho,,o tLo
turf Is firm onoug, to form, - cod To,y,
| Kansas Nebraska mud Missouri oro dottod
with these structures rona to decay tba re.
mains like tbn fossils tbot arc found in dif.
ferent geological formation of ne lifo thot is
fast beco,,inC, ovtinot M, ha,,o bo,,,o,,o,.
and do still ofrord shol+or ond ros+ and +o,,,
porarv bousos to many an antarnrising and
worthy family Rnt there are other dug-
outs. so-called filter for babitation and
homes than the sod house These better
ones reouire admiration of hard surface and
other facilities for their formation They ara
raised in the bluff or Ioess prolorical forma-
ton which prevails on the Missouri river
and its branches the Platte tbe Renblican
and Others.
Some four vears MOO 7 made unite n tour
in this region. observed its geological charac-
ter studied. as we were able the peculiaritv of
the bluff formation and learned its facilities
for comfortable and unioue homes In some
respects as Prof. Aughev of the University of
Nebraska saws in his sketches of the physi-
cal geography and geology of Nebrasl,a-a
book that gives the best discussion and de-
scription of this formation that we have
seen This deposit is one of fine most remark
able in the world. 1t prevails over at least
three fourths of the surface of Nebraska and
ranges in thickness from five to $50 feet
Some sections of it in a Dakota country
measure over POO feet. 1t is generally al
most perfectly homogeneous throughout and
of almost uniform color however thick the
deposit or far apart the specimens have
| been taken
In respect to structure the Loess or bluff
formation is stratefied and lancinated, the
lancina lying nearly parallel to the horizon
1t is all so highly porous. The pores are
described as minute tubes running from the
surface to the depths of the deposit From
this it follows that water seldom stands
upon the surface but penetrates and settles
to the bottom as soon as it falls. From this
popularity too it results that ponds and stag
nant water ara rare in this deposit. Also
that the soil is in workable condition
soon after heavy rain Further and con
trary to the expectation of many it suffers
less from drouth than soils that are less
| porous and more compact - Its value for
agricultural purposes says Prof Anghey
| is not exceeded anywhere for all pur-
poses of architectre' and it is with reference
To its architectural qualities especially for the
dug-o that ! have written of the LoesS
formation. This soil even for the most
massive structrcs is perfectly secure -
have never known a foundation of a
large brick or stone building, if commenced
below the winter frost line, to give way.
Even when the first layers of brick and
stone are laid on the top of the ground there
is seldom such unevenness of setting as to
produce fractures in the wall On no other
deposits except the cotid rock are there such
excellent walls. From II to "a hours after
the heaviest rains the roads ara perfectly
) dry and often appear after being travelled
few days like vast floor formed from ce-
ment and by the highest art of man. And
yet the soil is very easily worked yielding
readily to the spade or pillow. Excavation
is remarkably easy and no pick or mattock
is thought of for such PURPOSES 1t might
he expected that such a soil readily yielded
to atmospheric influences but such is not
the case Wells in this deposit are fire.
Quently walled up only to a point above the
water line and on the remainder the spade
marks will b. visible for wears Indeed the
travellers over Nebraska will often be sur
prised to see spade marks and carved-o
names and dates years after they were first
made where ordinary soils would soon have
fallen away into a gentle slope. This pc
, culiarity of the soil has often been a God
send to our emiurants Such often cut ont
of the hill sides a shelter for themselves and
their stock. Many time when caught out
on the roads in a storm far away from the
= town have found shelter in a dug-out with
anemigrant's family where COW and Wlrm
there was perfect comfort with little expen-
diture of fuel on the coolest DAYS.
In summer such shelters are much cooler
than frame or brick houses. | shall never
forget one occasion in 1886 when. bewildered
by a binding snow-storm | came to dug
ont and although all the chambers were
carved ont of the soil they were perfectly
; dry. The walls were hidden and ornament
ed with Harper's Weekly with the incarna-
ton of Nast's genius made to occupv the
conspicuous corners. Nv hostess. whose
cultivated intellect and kindly nature made
% even this abode a charming resort was a
; graduate of an Eastern seminary. Her
husband after n failure in business in New